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These strawberry cookies with chocolate coating are my go-to shortcut sweet when I need something fun and festive without tons of cleanup. With just a few simple items and minimal hands-on work, you'll enjoy the wonderful aroma of strawberries baking and the smooth chocolate finish that makes these treats irresistible.
I made these once as a surprise sweet ending after a tough week, and just seeing that pink color got everyone grinning before they even tasted how fantastic they were.
Round Up Your Ingredients
- Strawberry cake mix: delivers intense berry taste and pretty pink color, so try to find ones with real fruit or natural flavoring if possible
- Vegetable oil: creates soft, chewy cookies, and you can use any mild-tasting oil as a substitute
- Vanilla: adds warm, sweet fragrance - go for real extract for the fullest taste
- Eggs: hold everything together and provide texture and chewiness - grab large eggs and let them warm up first for easier mixing
- Melted chocolate: brings that special touch of luxury
- Valentine sprinkles (optional): add fun flair, especially nice for gifts or when baking with kids
- Good quality chocolate: for topping or half-dipping makes a huge difference in taste
How to Make It
- Mix and Form the Dough:
- Combine the strawberry cake mix, vegetable oil, vanilla and eggs in a big bowl until you get a thick, lumpy dough. You might need some elbow grease since cake mix dough tends to be thicker than regular cookie dough
- Chill the Dough:
- Stick the bowl in your fridge for 15 to 30 minutes. This helps the dough get firmer so your cookies stay nicely puffed and your hands won't get as sticky during rolling
- Shape Cookies:
- Grab a tablespoon to scoop and roll the dough into one-inch balls. Space them a couple inches from each other on an ungreased cookie sheet so they bake evenly and keep their shape
- Bake:
- Put your tray in a 350 degree oven, or 325 if you're using a dark or nonstick pan. Bake for about 9 to 12 minutes. Look for tops that seem set and dry with light golden edges. The bottoms should just start changing color but not turn brown
- Cool:
- Let cookies sit on the pan for a minute before moving to a rack. This helps them set up and prevents breaking. Make sure they're completely cool before adding chocolate
- Chocolate Dip or Drizzle:
- After cookies cool completely, spoon melted chocolate over one side or dip half of each cookie for stronger flavor. Place them back on the rack and add sprinkles if you want that festive touch. Wait until the chocolate hardens fully before serving
My absolute favorite moment is drizzling the chocolate and watching my children instantly gather around to add sprinkles. It's become our favorite thing to bake together when we want something pretty without creating a big mess.
Tasty Upgrades
Get high-quality chocolate for the topping since it really stands out in these cookies. Try adding grated lime peel or crushed freeze-dried berries on top for extra zing, or switch to dark chocolate drizzle during fall and winter for richer flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Fill a cute tin with tissue paper and stack these cookies for a thoughtful present. Arrange them on a big plate with fresh strawberries for a dessert spread. Crumble one or two over a bowl of vanilla ice cream for a quick and amazing dessert.
Creative Twists
Can't find strawberry cake mix? Try another fruit flavor like raspberry or cherry instead. For dairy free options, pick chocolate without dairy and check that your cake mix doesn't contain milk products either. You can roll the dough into balls, freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for ready-to-bake cookies anytime.
I've learned to always bake a large batch because this strawberry and chocolate combo gets eaten faster than any other sweet treat in our home. Savor each bite—these cookies are perfect whether you share them or keep them all for yourself.
Common Questions About This Recipe
- → How do I achieve a soft cookie texture?
Chill the dough in your fridge before you shape it and don't leave them in the oven too long - just until they're barely set for the softest results.
- → Can I use different cake mix flavors?
Sure thing, you can try other cake mix types for different flavor combos, though the strawberry really works great with the chocolate coating.
- → What type of chocolate is recommended for dipping?
Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips melt nicely for cookie coating and won't make your treats too sweet overall.
- → Are these suitable for special occasions?
You bet! These eye-catching, chocolate-coated cookies work great for birthdays, holidays or as sweet gifts.
- → How should I store the finished cookies?
Wait for the chocolate to harden completely, then put your cookies in a sealed container at room temp and they'll stay good for about 4 days.